John by Edward W. Klink III

Abstract

Reviewed by: John by Edward W. Klink III Christopher W. Skinner edward w. klink iii, John (Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament 4; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016). Pp. 971. $49.99. This commentary is the latest installment in Zondervan's Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. The series introduction at the beginning of the book spells out in detail the volume's evangelical orientation, which helps clarify several features of the commentary that might otherwise be difficult to explain. First, Klink begins his introduction with a false choice between "critical" and "confessional" approaches to scriptural interpretation and, by extension, commentary writing. This false dichotomy allows him to claim that "only the confessional approach ultimately trusts itself to the witness of the biblical text," on his way to proclaiming, "In this commentary we choose the Creator over his creation" (p. 24; italics original). Surely there are Johannine commentators who have been able to balance the concerns of both critical research and confessional life, while contributing greatly to our knowledge of Scripture? Immediately springing to mind are the contributions of Raymond E. Brown, C. K. Barrett, R. Alan Culpepper, J. Ramsey Michaels, Francis J. Moloney, Rudolf Schnackenburg, D. Moody Smith, and Marianne Meye Thompson, just to name a few. He later states, "One of the consequences of the critical approach … is the loss of connection between the doctrines of the church and the text of Scripture" (p. 30). Again, it is difficult to regard this as anything other than a false choice. While a segment of K.'s intended audience will no doubt find his proclamations on this subject laudable, they strike me as hollow and disingenuous. Though I appreciate K.'s larger point about not neglecting the confessional importance of the text, that he draws such rigid theological lines in the sand at the outset of his argument does not bode well for the direction of the commentary going forward. From one perspective, however, it is refreshing to see a scholar openly admit to having specific presuppositions and a social location, even if K.'s discussion of his location is unnecessarily provocative and tendentious. The introduction continues with an apologia for having a doctrine of Scripture prior to engaging in the interpretive process, and the exposition includes sections on creation, canon, and creed. In this context, K. also addresses theological, sociological, and cultural issues that impact interpretation of Scripture. Only [End Page 338] after these issues have been discussed does the commentary delve into the typical historical questions (date, authorship, provenance, audience, etc.). It will come as no surprise to those familiar with Klink's previous work (e.g., The Sheep of the Fold: The Audience and Origin of the Gospel of John [SNTSMS 141; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010]) that he rejects the concept of a Johannine community, following the influential work of his Doktorvater, Richard Bauckham. In a departure from Bauckham (who links authorship to John the Elder), however, K. asserts apostolic authorship, taking the traditional line that John the son of Zebedee is the author of the Fourth Gospel. Remarkably, however, he draws this conclusion by providing very little substantive argumentation and relying upon overstated traditional "evidence" (pp. 42-47). Overall, I find the introduction to this commentary a bit curious. As for the commentary itself, K. includes in each section a translation of the pericope being analyzed, a brief discussion of structure and literary form, an exegetical outline, and a verse-by-verse explanation of the text. This is followed by a section entitled, "Theology in Application," in which various terms, themes, or titles from the foregoing pericope are connected to the Christian life. There is regular interaction with the Greek text throughout the commentary, and a fair amount of attention is also given to thorny text-critical issues. Throughout the volume there are also numerous text boxes that expand on given features of the text. I anticipate that these excursuses will prove useful for K.'s intended readers. The commentary ends with a fourteen-page exposition of John's theology, including sections on God, the world, sin and death, the historical and cosmological plot, Scripture, the gospel of Jesus Christ, eschatology, the church, and the reader...